During a meeting of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade (INTA) in Brussels, there was an exchange of views on the trade pillar of the agreement between the EU and Mercosur. PiS MEP Waldemar Buda spoke during the discussion.
Waldemar Buda emphasized that the negotiation process for the agreement between the EU and Mercosur is highly controversial, information is not being made public, and much data is missing. “Sabine Weyand, the European Commission’s Director-General for Trade, comes to the European Parliament at the final stage of the agreement’s negotiation and says that the current stage of negotiations ‘is a secret,’” the MEP pointed out, asking why this was the case. The Polish politician recalled that 100,000 citizens from rural areas had supported him in the elections and that “it is the farmers he represents in this Chamber.” He also noted that the chief negotiator for the agreement is Rupert Schlegelmilch of Germany. According to the MEP, the fact that the economy with the greatest stake in the agreement has its own chief negotiator “is scandalous,” and he should resign immediately to demonstrate the transparency and integrity of these negotiations.
“Can’t you hear the voices of European countries?” asked the MEP, noting that most countries are against this agreement and citing France, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Poland as examples. He also stated that this agreement will never “pass” through the European Council, and that a majority coalition will block it. “In whose name are we still pushing for this agreement? Polish farmers aren’t going to die for Volkswagen. We represent farmers, not the CEO of Volkswagen,” Buda reminded his audience.
The PiS MEP noted that the EU had already been intimidated once by farmers protesting outside the European Parliament and the European Commission. “We will organize protests across Europe. This agreement cannot come into force because it harms the interests of Polish and European farmers,” he emphasized.
The Polish MEP addressed the frequently cited example of China’s cooperation with Mercosur countries and stated that China’s trade with South America should not serve as a model for the EU. He added that China cannot serve as a model for the European Union, as it represents different values and has a different approach to many issues. “For us, ensuring the EU’s food security is a strategic priority, not importing food from countries around the world,” Waldemar Buda concluded.
